diff --git a/chkbit/index.py b/chkbit/index.py
index adbd0af..25700f0 100644
--- a/chkbit/index.py
+++ b/chkbit/index.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class Index:
         if self.log:
             self.log(stat, os.path.join(self.path, name))
 
+    # calc new hashes for this index
     def update(self):
         for name in self.files:
             if self.should_ignore(name):
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ class Index:
                 continue
             self.new[name] = self._calc_file(name)
 
+    # check/update the index (old vs new)
     def check_fix(self, force):
         for name in self.new.keys():
             if not name in self.old:
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@ class Index:
 
     def load(self):
         if not os.path.exists(self.idx_file):
-            return
+            return False
         self.modified = False
         with open(self.idx_file, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
             data = json.load(f)
@@ -133,6 +135,7 @@ class Index:
                 if data.get("idx_hash") != hashtext(text):
                     self.modified = True
                     self._log(Stat.ERR_IDX, self.idx_file)
+        return True
 
     def load_ignore(self):
         if not os.path.exists(self.ignore_file):
diff --git a/chkbit/indexthread.py b/chkbit/indexthread.py
index 93c66c6..a714e75 100644
--- a/chkbit/indexthread.py
+++ b/chkbit/indexthread.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ from chkbit import Index, Stat
 class IndexThread:
     def __init__(self, idx, args, res_queue, todo_queue):
         self.idx = idx
-        self.update = args.update
+        self.verify_index_only = args.verify_index
+        self.update = args.update and not self.verify_index_only
         self.force = args.force
         self.todo_queue = todo_queue
         self.res_queue = res_queue
@@ -17,7 +18,8 @@ class IndexThread:
         self.t.start()
 
     def _log(self, stat, path):
-        self.res_queue.put((self.idx, stat, path))
+        if not self.verify_index_only or stat != Stat.NEW:
+            self.res_queue.put((self.idx, stat, path))
 
     def _process_root(self, parent):
         files = []
@@ -35,18 +37,18 @@ class IndexThread:
 
         # load index
         e = Index(parent, files, log=self._log)
-        e.load()
+        if e.load() or not self.verify_index_only:
 
-        # update the index from current state
-        e.update()
+            # calc the new hashes
+            e.update()
 
-        # compare
-        e.check_fix(self.force)
+            # compare
+            e.check_fix(self.force)
 
-        # save if update is set
-        if self.update:
-            if e.save():
-                self._log(Stat.FLAG_MOD, "")
+            # save if update is set
+            if self.update:
+                if e.save():
+                    self._log(Stat.FLAG_MOD, "")
 
         # process subdirs
         for name in dirs:
diff --git a/chkbit/main.py b/chkbit/main.py
index 887b0fc..0e5a23e 100644
--- a/chkbit/main.py
+++ b/chkbit/main.py
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ class Main:
             "-f", "--force", action="store_true", help="force update of damaged items"
         )
 
+        parser.add_argument(
+            "-i",
+            "--verify-index",
+            action="store_true",
+            help="verify files in the index only (will not report new files)",
+        )
+
         # parser.add_argument(
         #     "-d", "--delete", action="store_true", help="remove all .chkbit files from target"
         # )